“The Core 2 Duo processors are simply the best processors in the world,” said Paul Otellini, president and CEO of Intel. “Not since Intel introduced the Pentium processor has the industry seen the heart of the computer reinvented like this. The Core 2 Duo desktop processor is an energy-efficient marvel, packing 291 million transistors yet consuming 40 per cent lower power, while delivering the performance needed for the applications of today and tomorrow.”

According to Intel, the Intel Core 2 Duo processors are built in several of the world’s most advanced, high-volume output manufacturing facilities using Intel’s 65-nanometre silicon process technology. The desktop PC version of the processors also provide up to a 40 per cent increase in performance and are more than 40 per cent more energy efficient versus Intel’s previous best processor.

The Intel Core 2 Duo processor family consists of five desktop PC processors tailored for business, home and enthusiast users, such as high-end gamers, and five mobile PC processors designed to fit the needs of a mobile lifestyle. Intel Core 2 Duo processor-based workstations will also deliver industry leading performance for such areas as design, content creation and technical computing.

The processor family is based on the Intel Core microarchitecture. These dual-core chips improve tasks such as viewing and playing high-definition video, protecting the PC and its assets during e-commerce transactions and enabling improved battery life for sleeker, lighter notebooks.

Consumers and businesses will have the option to purchase Intel Core 2 Duo processors as part of Intel’s premier market-focused platforms, a collection of Intel hardware and software technologies tailored to specific computing needs, including Intel vPro technology for businesses, Intel Centrino Duo mobile technology for laptops, and Intel Viiv technology for the home.

Many of the products will offer a selection of Intel-designed and integrated technologies such as Intel Virtualization Technology and Intel Active Management Technology.

Also, support for 64-bit computing now expands to notebook PCs. The new processors can be paired with the Intel 975X, 965 and Mobile Intel 945 Express chipset family. The Intel 965 Express chipset includes the latest integrated graphics and Intel Clear Video Technology. All these chipsets are Microsoft Windows Vista Premium Ready.

Intel Wide Dynamic Execution - Improves performance and efficiency as each core can complete up to four full instructions simultaneously using an efficient 14-stage pipeline.

Intel Smart Memory Access - Improves system performance by hiding memory latency, thus optimising the use of available computer data bandwidth to provide data to the processor when and where it is needed.

Intel Advanced Smart Cache - Includes a shared L2 cache or memory reservoir to reduce power by minimising memory ‘traffic’ yet increases performance by allowing one core to utilise the entire cache when the other core is idle. Only Intel provides this capability in all segments.

Intel has been shipping production-ready Intel Core 2 Duo processors for all segments in advance. Initial Intel Core 2 Extreme processor-based systems are now available from system manufacturers, resellers and integrators, including Intel Channel Partner Program members. Intel Core 2 Duo desktop processor-based systems will be available beginning in early August. Intel Core 2 Duo processor-based notebooks will be available at the end of August.